Charges From Third Starting Spot to Claim Jersey Outlaw Classic

NEW EGYPT, N.J. – May 24, 2016 – It wasn’t easy, but 2013 World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series champion Daryn Pittman managed to charge his way from the third starting position to claim his fourth Jersey Outlaw Classic win in-a-row on Tuesday night at New Egypt (N.J.) Speedway.

Pittman, who won this event in 2013, ’14 and ’15, secured his fourth win of the season and first since USA Raceway in Tucson, Ariz. on April 18.

“I’ve been really frustrated with myself with how many front-row starts I’ve had this year and as few wins,” Pittman said. “I got up this morning and thought ‘Man, third is where I want to start’ – I just had that feeling this morning that if I start third I was going to win.

“Things went our way and we ended up starting third.”

Pittman had to work around race-long leader Greg Hodnett, who had dominated the feature and the preliminary races up to that point. (more…)

Schatz passes Schuchart with Five Laps Remaining to Win Empire State Challenge

WEEDSPORT, N.Y. – May 22, 2016 – Logan Schuchart led a race high 30 laps but fell victim to a hard-charging Donny Schatz, who climbed from the ninth starting position to take the lead and score the World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series victory in the Empire State Challenge at Weedsport Speedway on Sunday night.

The seven-time series champion defeated stiff competition and Mother Nature to capture his second win in-a-row at Weedsport, and his season-leading seventh checkered flag of the season.

“I got all the faith in the world in this race team – Tony [Stewart] has assembled an awesome group of guys,” Schatz said, as raindrops started to fall from the sky. “These guys are unbelievable and we have a lot of fun together. I’m sure they’re ready to get off the east coast because I have been riding in the truck with them and I think they’re ready to get rid of me for a while and have a break.” (more…)

Defeats Outlaws to Even the Score in Fiercely Contested Annual Feud

The feud kicked-off early in the night when the Outlaws and Posse split the quick-time awards with Joey Saldana fastest in the first flight and Hodnett fastest in the second.

The back-and-forth battle did not end there, as the two fierce rivals split the victories in the heat races evenly with the Outlaws and Posse each scoring two apiece.

For the second night in-a-row, the Outlaws were aided by the luck of the dash invert draw, as Saldana remained on the pole-position following an invert of zero. Unfortunately for Saldana, he was unable to hold off Hodnett in the six-lap race, as the Posse driver claimed the victory and the pole for the feature.

When the green-flag fell for the feature, Hodnett, in the Lelands.com/Eagle Steel No. 27 jumped out to an early lead, as second-place starter Saldana slid back. Daryn Pittman, who started fourth, quickly moved up to the runner-up position and applied pressure on Hodnett for the top spot. (more…)

Outlaws Land First Blow in Year-Long War with Pennsylvania Posse

ABBOTTSTOWN, Pa. – May 19, 2016 – Seven-time World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series champion Donny Schatz managed to do something that only one other series driver has been able to do since 1997: out-muscle the Pennsylvania Posse on their home turf and claim the Gettysburg Clash at Lincoln Speedway.
Schatz’s victory, his sixth of the season, gives the Outlaw drivers the upper hand as the annual feud over sprint car supremacy has officially kicked-off.
“We want to win everywhere we go, but man when you come to Pennsylvania the fans here are feisty and you hear a lot of swear words directed to you – that’s what this is about,” Schatz said. “This is a free country and I am glad there are people who can voice their opinion that they hate you or love you.
“It makes such a great comradery and it lifts up the competition level of the PA Posse racing on a weekly level and the World of Outlaws’ racing. That’s what this is about, to keep pushing each other to get better, and that’s what makes our sport what it is and makes it as dynamic as it is.” (more…)

Holds Off Challenges from Brady Bacon and Parker Price-Miller for Second Win of the Season

HAUBSTADT, Ind. – May 14, 2016 – David Gravel utilized his speed, and a touch of luck, Saturday night as he clawed his way around pole-sitter Kerry Madsen on the opening lap of the feature, then held off another non-Outlaw, Brady Bacon, in the closing laps to score his second World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series victory of the season at Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt, Ind.

Gravel controlled the top spot for all 40-laps, but his victory did not come easily, as he had to battle through lapped traffic while also trying to hold off a hard charging Bacon for the win.

“The CJB Motorsports car is obviously pretty good here after Paul [McMahan] won the two years previously, so I had to back that up,” Gravel said. “Hopefully, this leads to more wins to come and a great season.”

When the checkered flag fell, three non-Outlaws drivers: Bacon, Parker Price-Miller and Kerry Madsen held top-five finishing positions. Series regulars, Gravel, and seven-time series champion Donny Schatz, held the other two spots.

“This place – I guess my adrenaline pumps extra hard when we are here – I was just trying to get to the front,” Bacon, a non-Outlaws driver who finished second said. “I am disappointed we didn’t get there, but I’m just thrilled to have another good run. It’s been a good year in the winged car and a good year in everything so far, so hopefully I can keep it up and maybe we can steal one somewhere else.” (more…)

Picks Up Series-Leading Sixth World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series Victory of the Season

PLYMOUTH, Ind. – May 13, 2016 – Brad Sweet captured the lead from pole-sitter Joey Saldana early, then held off a challenge from teammate Daryn Pittman late in the race to claim the World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series inaugural race at Plymouth (Ind.) Speedway Friday night.

Sweet’s victory, his first since Bakersfield Speedway on April 15, is his sixth of the season which breaks a tie with seven-time World of Outlaws champion Donny Schatz for most in 2016.

“Typically, I’m not that great on these quarter-mile tracks, but for whatever reason, this year with this package we built it seems we are better on the short tracks but need to get better on the half-miles,” Sweet said. “That’s part of racing – you’re always searching and trying to find things. It’s great to get another win under our belts and build momentum.”

The Grass Valley, Calif. -native was never able to build a large lead during the 30-lap feature as he had to fight around Saldana early, then fend off tonight’s quick-time Logan Schuchart during the middle stages of the race, and finally hold off Pittman at the end for the win.

“It was a great effort by our Great Clips team – congrats to Brad, he did a heck of a job,” Pittman said. “We have been running good, just have a lot of second place finishes and we want a win. Kale [Kahne] and Michelle had their baby boy on Tuesday so that was a pretty awesome week for them, just would’ve liked to get them a win.” (more…)

For the Second Night in a Row, Chad Kemenah Finds Himself in Second

ROSSBURG, Ohio – May 7, 2016 – It was déjà vu at Eldora Speedway Saturday night, as Friday’s battle between Kerry Madsen and Chad Kemenah seemed to play out again in front of a large crowd at the #LetsRaceTwo finale.

After a pitched battle through the middle and late portions of the feature between the former Outlaw regular Madsen and All Star Circuit of Champions driver Kemenah, Madsen claimed his second World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series victory of the season and the weekend sweep.

“We’ve been quick all year and we just haven’t showcased it. The guys just stepped it up – the car was a rocket ship all weekend,” Madsen said. “Just to get this up here the last two nights is fantastic. It was a hell of a race.”

Madsen battled from fourth in the Dash to share the front row with Daryn Pittman for the feature. As the green flag fell on the 30-lap main event the two drivers engaged in a multi-lap back and forth. By lap two, Madsen was able to get breathing room from Pittman and pull away.

As Madsen began to run down traffic, the battles heated up behind him. Joey Saldana worked for a line around David Gravel for fourth. As the field worked it’s way around, Saldana threw a slider in turns three and four. As he drifted off the turn at the exit of four, contact was made between he and Gravel that sent Saldana tumbling. The crash ended Saldana’s night. (more…)

Joey Saldana Finishes Third with Pass on Last Turn of Last Lap

PERRIS, Calif. – April 16, 2016 – Daryn Pittman dominated Saturday night’s SoCal Showdown at Perris Auto Speedway to claim his second World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series victory of the season. The win came one night after a crash ended his night while he led at Bakersfield Speedway.
“Last night was dumb,” Pittman said of his Bakersfield Speedway run. “I ran over Joey [Saldana] and took ourselves out of contention for a win there and tore up a lot of equipment.”
Pittman, who claimed his first ever series win at Perris, said perseverance is the motto of his No. 9 Great Clips team.
“This car has been so fast and we’re right there in the hunt every night,” Pittman said. “We’ve just got to put it together and that starts with me.
“This track has been really good to me and I got my very first Outlaw win here beating Steve Kinser to the line by I don’t know how close – it was really close. It’s one I’ll never forget so I always enjoy coming here.” (more…)

Red Flags and Flared Tempers Color Series Return After 11-Year Absence

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – April 15, 2016 – Brad Sweet claimed his fifth World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series victory of the season through red flags and flared tempers at Bakersfield Speedway on Friday night.
Sweet, who passed Joey Saldana on a late restart in the Budweiser Bash feature, tied Donny Schatz for the most wins on the season.
“It seemed like every time the race started getting good the caution came out,” Sweet said. “The track was getting really really tricky but in great racing shape… It’s awesome. We got a great start to the season, my guys behind me have given me great cars all throughout the year. Can’t thank them enough. Hopefully we can keep the momentum going.”
Daryn Pittman, who was forced to change an engine earlier in the night, led the field to the green flag as the Outlaws returned to Bakersfield for the first time since 2005. Jason Johnson battled early for the lead but Saldana charged forward.
By lap nine, Pittman worked his way through traffic as Saldana closed the gap and began to challenge for the top spot. As the two drivers completed the next lap, Saldana pulled side-by-side with Pittman in his No. 83 Roth Motorsports car off of turn two, down the back straight and into turns three and four. Pittman took on the high side as Saldana stayed wheel-to-wheel with Pittman through the middle. In the middle of three, Saldana and Pittman made contact sending Pittman into the cushion which caused Pittman’s car to tumble into the turn four catch fence. (more…)